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Crowley, a global shipping and sustainable energy logistics firm, is advancing its plans to offer liquefied natural gas (LNG) bunkering services at a key maritime location, the Pacific side of the Panama Canal. This significant development was confirmed on Tuesday (24th Oct) when the Panama Maritime Authority (AMP) issued the company its first permit for ship-to-ship LNG transfer services. Expectations are set for these services to commence as early as 2024.

James Fowler, Senior Vice-President and General Manager of Crowley Shipping, expressed his belief in LNG as the most feasible transitional alternative fuel for maritime shipping. He shared that Crowley is tactically expanding its LNG bunkering operations across the United States. He emphasized the strategic importance of the Panama Canal, envisioning it as a crucial point for vessels to refuel with LNG. Fowler highlighted that Crowley’s upcoming bunkering service in Panama would bolster the confidence of international shipowners to increasingly integrate LNG into their fleets.

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Crowley’s expansion in the U.S. LNG market is not a recent endeavor. The company’s commitment dates back to 2014 when it secured the first small-scale LNG export license from the U.S. Department of Energy. This license permitted the transportation of LNG from the U.S. to both free trade agreement and non-free trade agreement countries.

In 2022, the company further broadened its services by inaugurating an LNG truck-loading terminal in Peñuelas, Puerto Rico. This facility, believed to be the largest of its kind in the U.S., includes a 12,000m3 LNG bunker barge currently under construction. Furthermore, a long-term charter agreement has been established with Shell, set to commence in 2024, aimed at servicing ships along the U.S. East Coast.

This expansion aligns with the broader trends in U.S. natural gas exports. Recent data from the U.S. Energy Information Administration indicates that in the first half of 2023, the U.S. exported more natural gas than in the corresponding period of any previous year. This growth in exports underscores the increasing global role of natural gas and the strategic importance of services provided by companies like Crowley in the evolving energy landscape.

According to the article by Procurement Resource, Crowley, a global logistics firm, received a permit from the Panama Maritime Authority for ship-to-ship LNG transfer services at the Panama Canal, aiming to start in 2024. This expansion, part of Crowley's long-term LNG commitment, includes U.S. operations like an LNG terminal in Puerto Rico and a partnership with Shell. This aligns with increased U.S. natural gas exports, highlighting natural gas's growing global significance and Crowley's strategic role in this sector.